6th Annual Yule Feast - Shire of Coill Tuar, 1/11/14

The next opportunity to serve came to me without warning or preparation, kinda just fell in my lap.
We are friends with the then Seneschal of the Shire of Coill Tuar (Southern Ulster Co., NY & Northern Orange Co., NY) Lorenz Greylever

We attended their Winter Holiday event, and specially drove through NYC (specifically Brooklyn) to pick up the then Vicereign of OstGardr, Johanna I Visby. 
We could have taken the Cross Sound Ferry into Connecticut from Long Island, but we picked up the Vicereign instead. 
She's a Lovely woman who has since been admitted into the Order of the Pelican...
More about her later.

When we arrived at the event site,  we found Lorenz (the Seneschal) sitting at the admissions gate.
This was unusual, because the Seneschal is typically moving around and about an event, getting things done, and making sure any sparks don't turn into fires. 
We did not know the place was already 'ablaze.'

I volunteered to sit troll until the regularly assigned person showed up. 
Lorenz told us she was down with the plague. 

I told him I would handle troll for the day, and he should go do what needed to be done. 

At this point my Lord Husband, Ronan FitzRobert, volunteered to help in the kitchen, along with our daughter, Miriam Giant-Slayer, and asked where they could find the Feastocrat. 
She was also down with the plague. 

My hubby and daughter promptly rolled up sleeves and took over the scut work in the kitchen, ending up basically running the Feast for the event. 

This was the start of the Family FitzRobert getting known for attending events outside our own area and working them so the locals can have fun.

SCAdians are a pleasant group as a whole.
When the locals were told I was a foreigner helping out, they were quite patient & helpful to me in return.

I got to really place name to face for folk I otherwise would not have.
At Troll you get their real and SCAdian names, and their monies. 
You give them a site token, (a commemorative souvenir as proof of admission,) and help them head off to the activity for which they showed up. 

This part was a bit challenging, because this was the first event I had attended in the Shire.
I really didn't know where anything was.

I muddled through.
The paperwork got completed correctly.
The monies balanced.
The Feast went off without a hitch.
The food was enjoyed by all.
Lorenz got to return to his Seneschal-ly duties and the 'fire' was extinguished. 

I had fun.
So did Ronan and Miriam.

I got to sit beside Johanna for Feast, and see how things are done in a Shire as opposed to a Barony.  It felt a bit odd to not have an Event include Court, but it does make it feel more casual and homey like. It also allows things to end a bit earlier when you don't have to include time for a Court and all the things that go with it. I can understand why an area might want to stay a Shire, all the fun stuff without the extra layers of  formality that accompany even the most casual of Courts... and if you want that at any given event, ask your sponsoring Coronet to come to that event. 
Best of both worlds, really

My first time Autocratting -Before I got my Belt, June 2013

On June 8, 2013 there was an event held in the Barony of An Dubhaigeainn called The Test.  It was the first of a planned annually recurring friendly competition between the An Dub Ducks and the OstGardr Seahorses.  The name would later change to The Challenge
It was all Ateño's idea, and since he had just consented to take me on as his protege he decided to ask me to assist him in Autocratting - basically running the thing.

It was also sort of a test for me.
Could I handle working with him?
Could I handle an Autocrat role for an event of this type?
  It required
a) getting the various champions (Heavy List, Fencing, Art & Science, Bardic, Archery, Thrown Weapons, and Brewing) to co-ordinate a contest for a Tournament, and
b) running the event so that
c) the Coronets of both locales would be able to watch the competitions, and make judgments on them; and
d) also having things for the general attendees to do; and
e) stuff for the kids, too.

It ended up going very well.
I made the site tokens for the event.
They were wooden disks which I sanded down the front, back, and edges, and then stamped with either a Duck head and Seahorse tail, or a Seahorse head and a Duck tail.
I made about 120 of them, 60 of each, so that the token could reflect to which side the wearer was allied.
They also had some wording on it.  It was all done with ink stamps, the words one letter at a time... it was time consuming, but came out well.
People seemed to like them.

I learned enough to be comfortable with working with/for Ateño, and he must have liked what he saw of me.
We had our little ceremony not too long after, and formalize our relationship.

June 29 2013 The Start of the Journey

At an annual event in the Barony of An Dubhaigeainn, (Suffolk County, Long Island) after being involved with the Society for Creative Anachronisms for about 5 years, I was honored to enter into a Master/Protege relationship with Baron Master Ateño of Annun Ridge, OP, OL etc.

The event was called Potted Arms and was held at the UU Church in Huntington. In a semi-public ceremony, Ateño took on an Apprentice, Onora inghean Ui Ruairc, and myself as a Protege. We refer to each other as "Belt Siblings."

Above L-R Master Vettorio, Me, now THL Onora, Master Richard the Poor of Ely and an Unidentified populace member.

He presented each of us with a Contract, ably scribed by Master Vettorio Antonello, with the terms of the agreement, Ateño's Arms, and our Arms respectively.  The space for my Arms was left blank because they had not passed yet.


The SCA has a College of Heralds, which, among other things, checks each person's proposed name and armory design to make sure it is not too close to ones that already exist.  In the Society, one never HAS TO have their name registered, or even come up with armory.  But if one DOES, it keeps anyone else from getting too close to yours.

Mine have since passed and I'm using my Arms as my Profile picture.  It is supposed to represent ME so... why not.

After the signing of the document by Ateño, myself, and three adult witnesses, Ateño called forth a local child.  He said that in period, documents would frequently be witnessed by a child so that, many years later, presumably even after the Principal signers were long gone, the now Aged Child would be able to say "I Remember"

This was the Formal beginning of my Path of Service, but I had already taken some steps upon it before I formalized it.

Flashback to Pennsic War XLI (41) in 2012.  The Prince and Princess of the East were Edward II and Thyra I, and did not have enough retainers in Camp.  A retainer is someone who follows the Titled Leader (Royal, Heir, Coronet etc) around, carries their things, keeps them on Schedule, holds the gifts they receive and the favors they give out, keeps them fed and hydrated, etc.  Retainers help keep the Dream alive by making their principal look unburdened by the minutia of the mundane, up on the proverbial pedestal, and able to focus on the folks in front of them.  It is a lot of fun, for me.

I didn't know that what I like to do was actually a JOB. I didn't know it was actually considered something important, that needed to be done, that it was SERVICE. I had read about the East Kingdom award structure, and about the Peers, and what they do, but I did not connect a Pelican to being a helper.

At that fateful Pennsic, Baroness Gianetta announced to Camp that Their Royal Highnesses needed more retainers. I volunteered and she took me over to EK Royal to introduce me. I met Princess Thyra, and her staff, and started retaining.  I got to hang with the Royals, meet more people, be privy to what was going on.  During EK Court later that week, I got to be in a physical position where I could SEE and HEAR everything!!! It was AWESOME... I could see the look on the faces of Award recipients, get a really good look at the fantastic scrolls and awards that the Eastern Artisans create, and then Give Away!! I could hear not only the Herald making his pronouncements, but also the sotto voce sideline stuff.  I could see (and be part of) the stage magic that goes into any type of performance. (And, believe me, Court is as much of a performance as any play, but with more audience participation and less script.)

Back home, after Pennsic, I started to officially retain for our current Baron and Baroness, none other than Ateño, and his wife Lassar.  I got to know them both, learned more about the society, and discovered that I was On this path, and I realized I wanted to Formalize it.

Ateño did not want to take on dependents while he was the Coronet.
I asked him to consider me just before he stepped down.
Onora had already had the discussion with him about becoming his apprentice.  She is a phenomenal artist.
An apprentice's path is more about the physical art they can produce, and the research and work that goes into it.
An apprentice is less oriented toward service, and more toward art.
An apprentice may become a Maunche (which Onora has) and may also become a Laurel.
That is the highest Society Level Recognition for Art.
The mentoring of an apprentice is a little different from that of a protege, because the focus is different.
My request to Ateño to become his Protege was asking him to a) take on a second dependent when he might have been looking for a break after 5 years in Service as Coronet, b) take on a differently focused mentee, and c) take on well...me. I am a whole different ball of wax.

Above L-R Master Richard, me, Ateño and Lassar

He (obviously) accepted, and the summer after he stepped down, we had our ceremony.

When things Happened

Edit to Add: Life & COVID got in my way.... more updates coming soon!!!

This is a listing of Services I have performed

There will be a post about most of them to detail how I do service and what I do.

I'm posting this as a sort of Table Of Contents, and to keep track myself.

 

== Event Staff ==

2013 & Earlier 

Assistant Autocrat

The Test of An Dubhaigeainn and Ostgardr, in An Dubhaigeainn 6/8/2013

 Royalty Retainer

St. Andrew Returns from the New World for the Baronial Investiture, for Thyra Eiriksdottir in An Dubhaigeainn 11/10/2012 

2014

Chatelaine

Spring Schola: Russian Exchange Ducklings also Co-Autocrat in An Dubhaigeainn 3/29/14

Potted Arms VIII in the Canton of Hawkes Reache, in An Dubhaigeainn 7/12/14

Arrows & Ales in the Mead Hall in An Dubhaigeainn 9/20/14 also Troll

St Andrew at the Highland Games, in An Dubhaigeainn also Substitute MoL in An Dubhaigeainn 11/15/14

Deputy Autocrat, Royalty Liaison & Chatelaine

K&Q Rattan Championship Reign of Brennan I & Caoilfhionn I, also Retainer for Caoilfhionn inghean Fhaoláin, in An Dubhaigeainn 6/20/2014

 Demo Chair

Pack Night Cub Pack 6249, in An Dubhaigeainn 4/24/14

Suffolk County Boy Scout Camporee, in An Dubhaigeainn 4/26/14

Out of area Events 

Troll 6th Annual Yule Feast - Shire of Coill Tuar, in Coill Tuar 1/11/14

2015 

Autocrat

Spring Schola: Ducklings at the Sorbonne, in An Dubhaigeainn 3/21/15

Saint Andrew Visits the Patron Saint of Estonia, in An Dubhaigeainn 11/8/15

 

Deputy Autocrat, Merchant Liaison, Chatelaine

Spring Crown Tourney in An Dubhaigeainn Reign of Omega V & Etheldreda IV 5/2/15 

Demo Participant

Cloisters Demo in the Canton of Whyt Whey, Crown Province of Ostgardr 10/4/15

General Gopher & Doer

Arrows, Axes, & Ales in An Dubhaigeainn 9/17/15

Chatelaine & Troll

Lions In Winter in the Canton of Lions End, Crown Province of Ostgardr 2/21/15

Hungry Samurai in An Dubhaigeainn 6/5/15

2016

 Host

Baronial Archery Practice 10/15/16 in An Dubhaigeainn

Demo Participant

EternaCon, in the Canton of Lions End, Crown Province of Ostgardr 6/11/16

Cloisters Demo, in the Canton of Whyt Whey, Crown Province of Ostgardr 9/18/16

Queen's Farm Demo, in the Crown Province of Ostgardr 9/25/16

 Chatelaine/Water bearer

An Dubhaigeainn Fighter College in An Dubhaigeainn 9/11/16

Troll

Spring Schola: What do you do with a Pirate Ducky? in An Dubhaigeainn 3/19/16

Potted Arms X: Sankt Hans, in the Canton of Hawkes Reache, in An Dubhaigeainn 6/25/16

 2017

Host

Baronial Archery Practices in An Dubhaigeainn 8/26/17, 9/24/17, 10/8/17, 10/22/17, and 11/12/17

Baronial A&S Workshops in An Dubhaigeainn 03/12/17 and 12/16/17,

 

Royalty Retainer

A Funny Thing Happened to St Andrew on the Way to the Forum, for Ivan Ivanov Syn Dimitriov Vynuk Tzardikov, in An Dubhaigeainn 9/15/17

Tournament of the Roses, for Matilde DeCadenet, in Dragonship Haven 10/14/2017

Crown Tournament of Ivan & Matilde for Ivan Ivanov Syn Dimitriov Vynuk Tzardikov and Matilde DeCadenet in Bergental 11/04/17

Deputy Baronial Court Herald

Barleycorn 25th Anniversary, in the Canton of Northpass, Crown Province of Ostgardr 9/9/17

Arrows, Axes, & Ales, in An Dubhaigeainn 10/28/2017

 Demo Participant

Cloisters Demo, in the Canton of Whyt Whey, Crown Province of Ostgardr 10/01/2017

Coronet Retainer

Barleycorn 25th Anniversary, for Viceregals Suuder Saran and Lada Monguligin in the Canton of Northpass, Crown Province of Ostgardr 9/9/17

 2018

 Baronial Herald

Arrows, Axes and Ales in An Dubhaigeainn 9/15/18

Saint Andrew Travels Home: 1st stop, Sienna Italy in An Dubhaigeainn 11/10/18

Deputy Baronial Herald

Spring Schola in An Dubhaigeainn 3/10/18

The An Dubhaigeainn / Ostgardr Challenge in An Dubhaigeainn 5/12/2018

Host

Baronial Archery/Thrown Weapons Practices in An Dubhaigeainn

4/22/2018 (included A&S and Pennsic 101), 6/2/2018, 6/16/2018, 7/8/2018 (included Youth Practice and A&S,) 7/21/2018,  8/26/2018 (Thrown Weapons Only), 9/1/2018, 10/8/2018, 11/3/2018

Royal Court Voice Herald

Mudthaw - Nowruz comes to the Swamp, Three AoA's at Evening Royal Court in Settmour Swamp 3/24/18

Balfar's Challenge, Three AoA's at Evening Royal Court in Dragonship Haven 4/21/18

East Kingdom 50th, Friday evening and Saturday evening Court Herald. in Schaghticoke, NY 6/30 - 7/1/18

 Royalty Retainer

Kings and Queens Arts and Sciences AND Bardic Championships, for Ivan Ivanov Syn Dimitriov Vynuk Tzardikov & Matilde DeCadenet in Crown Province of Ostgardr 2/10/18

Mudthaw - Nowruz comes to the Swamp, for Matilde DeCadenet, in Settmour Swamp 3/24/18

Adventus in Eisental for Caoilfhionn inghean Fhaoláin in the Shire of Eisental 8/25/18

 2019

 Baronial Herald

Spring Schola in An Dubhaigeainn 3/9/2019

Potted Arms in An Dubhaigeiann 6/15/2019

St Andrew Crosses the Alps in An Dubhaigeainn 9/28/2019 

Arrows, Axes, and Ales: Laudi Romani in An Dubhaigeainn 11/02/2019 

 Host 

1/20/2019 Baronial A&S Afternoon Make Tabbards for Baronial Gold Key

4/28/2019 Baronial A&S Afternoon Make Queen's Favors for Fortune St. Keyne

 8/18/2019 Archery/Thrown Weapons/A&S Gathering in An Dubhaigeiann

 9/14/2019 Archery/Thrown Weapons/A&S Gathering in An Dubhaigeiann

 Out of area Events

1/12/2019 Troll & Provincial Court Voice Herald Deck the Halls of Valhalla in Ostgardr

3/30/2019 Troll & Royal Court Voice Herald Mudthaw and K&Q A&S Championship in Settmour Swamp

6/08/2019 Demo Participant Lions End Farmingdale Demo in the Canton of Lion's End, Crown Province of Ostgardr

9/08/2019 Provincial Court Voice Herald & Viceregal Retainer in the Canton of Northpass, Crown Province of Ostgardr for the Viceregalty Suuder Saran and Lada Monguligin

9/21/2019 Demo Participant Queens Farm County Fair in the Crown Province of Ostgardr

9/29/2019 Demo Participant Cloisters Demo in the Canton of Whyte Way, Crown Province of Ostgardr

  

Royalty Retainer

4/6/2019 Coronation of Ôzurr and Fortune for Ôzurr the Bootgiver in Ostgardr

7/20/2019 East Kingdom Novice Day for Margarita de Siena